Cranbrook, BC – Red Deer forward John Persson scored 3 goals and Andrej Kudrna had 2 goals and 3 assists in a 6-4 win over the Kootenay ICE in WHL action on Sunday night.
ICE opened the scoring as Max Reinhart’s backhand shot was stopped by the goalies’ shoulder and the rebound was in the crease and defenseman Brayden Mcnabb was there to push it across the line.
Rebels got a powerplay and tied the game as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins fed John Persson at the back door and he scored with a quick shot.
ICE regained the lead 2-1 as Jagger Dirk bounced one in from the top of the circle that seem to suprise the goalie.
Rebels tied the game late in the 2nd period on a powerplay as the point shot that missed the net came out the other side to Andrej Kudrna who had time to tuck the puck around the post.
Rebels took a 3-2 lead on a 2-man advantage powerplay as John Persson received another back door pass from Ryan Nugent Nugent-Hopkins.
On another powerplay the Rebels took a 4-2 lead as Andrek Kudrna scored from the corner that beat the goalie high on the glove side.
ICE got back within a goal on a 3-on-2 break as Kevin King was left alone in front of the net and scored on wrist shot high on the stick side.
John Persson completed the hat-trick with a long wrist shot from the top of the slot.
ICE pulled their goalie and got back within a goal again as Cody Eakin stepped into a one-time shot from the top of the right circle that beat the screened goalie.
Rebels ended the scoring as Brett Ferguson scored into an empty net.
Rebels came into the game on a 7-game winning streak and had outscored the opposition 31-6 during the streak.
Red Deer is in 1st place in the Central Division and Kootenay is 2nd.
ICE will host Brandon on Wednesday.
ICE Scratches – Luke Paulsen (head day-to-day), Joey Leach (ankle 6-8 weeks), Steele Boomer (ankle 4-6 weeks), Matt Fraser (head day-to-day).
Leach, a draft pick of the Flames, is in Calgary and will have an operation this week to have a broken bone removed in his ankle.
Paulsen could play as early as Wednesday.
Fraser could play by next weekend.
Game Summary
Red Deer 32-12-1-4 Kootenay 30-15-1-2
1st Period
1. Kootenay, McNabb 11 (Reinhart) :30
2. Red Deer, Persson 19 (Nugent-Hopkins, Kudrna) 1:33 pp
3. Kootenay, Dirk 5 (Reinhart, Pearce) 12:36
Penalties – Reinhart Ktn (interference) 1:06, Kambeitz RD Hurley Ktn (roughing) 2:11, Weller RD (fighting) Montgomery Ktn (boarding, fighting) 8:08, Dumba RD (interefence) 15:59, Antilla Ktn (tripping) 18:16.
2nd Period
4. Red Deer, Kudrna 20 (Petrovic, Nugent-Hopkins) 18:42 pp
Penalties – Cowen RD (double roughing) Czerwonka Ktn (roughing) 3:17, Ferguson RD (tripping) Petrovic RD (roughing) McNabb Ktn (roughing) 9:18, Archer RD (slashing) 10:32, Rintoul Ktn (tripping) 11:36, Bench RD (too many men) 12:45, Bench Ktn (too many men) 14:43, McNabb Ktn (boarding) 16:46.
3rd Period
5. Red Deer, Persson (2) 20 (Nugent-Hopkins, Elson) 4:03 5-on-3 pp
6, Red Deer, Kudrna (2) 21 (Nugent-Hopkins, Petrovic) 7:41 pp
7. Kootenay, King 21 (Ismond, Eakin) 10:25
8. Red Deer, Persson (3) 21 (Kudrna) 17:29
9. Kootenay, Eakin 20 (Rintoul, McNabb) 18:47
10. Red Deer, Ferguson 14 (Petrovic 19:12 en
Penalties – Hurley Ktn (hooking) 2:29, Elson RD (fightinging) Eakin Ktn (goalie interference) Czerwonka Ktn (fighting) 3:51, Bench Ktn (too many men) 6:10, Deagle RD (tripping) 11:42,
Shots on goal by
Red Deer – 16 - 9 – 8 = 33
Kootenay – 17 – 14 – 9 = 40
Goal (shots-saves) – Red Deer: Darcy Kuemper (W 31-8-1-2) (40-36) Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (L 21-12-1-1) (32-27)
Power plays (goals-chances) – Red Deer: 4/10 Kootenay: 0/6
Referees – Trevor Hansen, Jeff Ingram
Linesmen – Bobby Bedingfield, Aidan Henderson
Attendance – 2,373